Donepezil
Brand names: Aricept®, Aricept® ODT
Chemical formula:

- Drug Forms:
- Donepezil tablets (below)
- Donepezil oral solution
- Español:
- Tabletas de donepezil
Donepezil tablets
What are donepezil tablets?
DONEPEZIL (Aricept®, Aricept® ODT) helps treat the symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. It is not a cure for Alzheimer's disease but offers improvement in memory, attention, reason, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks. Benefits are usually greater for mild to moderate symptoms seen in the early stages of the disease. Generic donepezil tablets or orally-disintegrating tablets are not yet available.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
asthma or other lung disease
difficulty passing urine
head injury
heart disease, slow heartbeat
liver disease
low blood pressure
Parkinson's disease
seizures (convulsions)
severe headaches
stomach or intestinal disease, ulcers or stomach bleeding
an unusual or allergic reaction to donepezil, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take donepezil tablets by mouth, refer to the directions below that match the type of tablets you were prescribed. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You may take donepezil with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals; donepezil is usually taken before bedtime. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Continue to take your medicine even if you feel better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
Aricept® tablets: Take tablets by mouth. Swallow the tablets with a sip of water or other fluid.
Aricept® ODT tablets: These tablets are made to dissolve in the mouth without having to take them with water. Place the tablet in the mouth and allow it to dissolve, then swallow. While you may take these tablets with water, it is not necessary to do so.
Contact your health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What drug(s) may interact with donepezil?
some antibiotics (such as erythromycin and clarithromycin)
some antidepressants (examples: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline)
some drugs for treating diabetes (pioglitazone, troglitazone)
atropine
benztropine
bosentan
carbamazepine
dexamethasone
dicyclomine
digoxin
galantamine
glycopyrrolate
hyoscyamine
ipratropium
itraconazole or ketoconazole
medications for motion sickness (examples: dimenhydrinate, meclizine, scopolamine)
medicines for treating HIV infection or AIDS
medicines that relax your muscles for surgery
modafinil
non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
oxybutynin
phenytoin
phenobarbital
propantheline
quinidine
rifampin, rifabutin or rifapentine
rivastigmine
St. John's wort
tacrine
trihexyphenidyl
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking donepezil?
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if there is no improvement in your symptoms or if they get worse.
You may get dizzy or feel faint. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how donepezil affects you.
If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking donepezil.
What side effects may I notice from taking donepezil?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
changes in vision or balance
diarrhea, if it is severe or does not stop
dizziness, fainting spells, or falls
increase in frequency of passing urine, or incontinence
nervousness, agitation, or increased confusion
skin rash or hives
slow heartbeat, or palpitations
stomach pain
sweating
uncontrollable movements
unusual bleeding or bruising, red or purple spots on the skin
vomiting
weight loss
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
mild diarrhea, especially when starting treatment
drowsiness
headache
indigestion or heartburn
loss of appetite
nausea
joint pain
muscle cramping
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 degrees and 30 degrees C (59 degrees and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
Last updated: 1/12/2005 4:09:00 PM
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.






